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Harry Potter: Spells Review

PROS

Amazing interactivity.

Great fun with friends.

CONS

Imprecise gesture recognition.

Computer opponents can be 'cheap'.

VERDICT

This might be more for the Harry Potter fans out there, but dueling friends can be great fun. It's a guilty pleasure, but you might want to avoid the computer controlled opponents who do not suffer the same control woes as you.

Full Review

App Store Info

Harry Potter: Spells is an amazing experience from Warner Brothers for the iPhone that is probably worth getting for the sheer nerd factor of having a wizard duel with your friends in real time. Complex gestures will translate into spells that will harm your opponent and protect you from danger, making dueling a match of wits and accuracy that will have you waving your iPhone around till your arm hurts.

Spells are activated by holding the iPhone much like a wand, then holding your thumb down as you move your arm in one of 14 different paths specific to each spell. A lot of practice is needed to accurately pull off spells, but even after mastering each one it's not uncommon to have the iPhone fail to recognize the gestures, which is a death sentence in a duel.

As you'd expect from Warner Brothers, the graphics are all beautifully created for the menus and each spell effect is a unique visual explosion. As an added bonus it's possible to record your own voice announcing the spells and this gives the game a personal touch in duels which are available via wifi and bluetooth.

The gesture controls could have used more tweaking or in the least made simpler to ensure that they're not incorrectly read. It seems a shame they're not more accurate in a game dedicated to dueling, but at least against a real life opponent you'll be on even ground. Definitely a great grab for Potter fans and those after a unique multiplayer experience.

Description

Transform your iPhone or iPod touch into a magic wand and get ready to duel!

You are officially invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Once enrolled, receive the wand destined for you before being Sorted into one of the four houses by the Sorting Hat. Then using specific hand gestures for each of the 17 included spells, practice, practice, practice before experiencing the ultimate contest - DUELLING!

Compete against the computer or challenge a fellow classmate to a real-time duel – player versus player, casting spells from one device to the other. Earn valuable house points for your house while learning, practicing and duelling. Visit the house points section to view your official stats and global ranking. Finally, share it with the rest of the world by posting it to your Facebook page via Facebook Connect.

FEATURES:

• 23 Powerful Spells - Stun your opponent with STUPEFY or disarm them with EXPELLIARMUS, and many, many more

• 17 spells included in this premium version with two additional spell packs available from the all-new “More Spells” option in the main menu
o All-New Spell Pack #6* – CRUCIO, IMPERIO and WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA
*Requires Update 1.6
• ALL 3 UNFORGIVABLE CURSES ARE AVAILABLE NOW!!!

• All-New Death Eater skin:
oUnlock all 23 spells to skin your menu screen with the all-new Death Eater skin

• 2 Control Schemes:
o Touch-Screen – Use your finger to draw shapes on the screen to cast spells.
o Motion Controls - Draw shapes vertically in the air with your device to cast spells.

• Intense Duelling Action:
o Single Player - Cast spells against three different difficulty levels
o Multiplayer – Challenge a friend to a duel and cast spells from one device to the other in real-time encounters

• Authentic Experience - From visiting Ollivanders to being sorted by the Sorting Hat